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NorCal Imaging
Pleasanton Moves into
Hacienda Medical Center
By Nicole Zaro Stahl All new digital equipment. Twice as many modalities. Three times the space. These are some of the upgrades NorCal Imaging Pleasanton has introduced in its new 10,000-square-foot facility in the Hacienda Medical Center building at 5924 Stoneridge Drive. NorCal moved into the freshly refurbished space from much smaller quarters nearby on June 23. “We have been in the area for many years and have many returning patients,” says Nikki Arbogast, the company’s local site manager for the past eight years. “We wanted to expand and upgrade, but we didn’t want to go too far away. “This building is amazing,” she continues. “We gutted the interior and were able to reconfigure the space to accommodate several new modalities, including a high-field MRI, a16-slice PET/CT scanner, two brand-new digital mammography machines, two brand-new ultrasound machines, a stereotactic machine, and a brand- new DEXA for bone densitometry. This is all best-of-breed technology. None of the imaging equipment from the previous location made the move,” she emphasizes. In addition to improved accuracy, faster speeds, and greater flexibility, the new systems all generate digitized images that can easily be shared by medical professionals at any of the seven Bay Area sites in the NorCal network. “Our computer system is integrated so no matter what the location we can pull up images for any patient. We can view the patient history and have access to whatever information is in the network, so there are no more worries about bringing films to appointments and so on,” Arbogast relates. Facing concerns about patients with contagious diseases like tuberculosis or serious staph infections, Aborgast has implemented several measures to safeguard public health. “I make sure my staff is well educated to deal with these situations,” she says. “We use universal precautions, and gloves, gowns, and masks when appropriate. Patients with infections, even bronchitis, are directed to sub-waiting rooms, avoiding contact with others.” The NorCal network is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based RadNet, which operates 167 outpatient imaging centers in six states, including California, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Florida, and Kansas. Although the company is likely the largest service provider in its field in the United States, one of RadNet’s hallmarks is an emphasis on meeting the demands of local markets. “We talk to the physicians’ offices so we can be sensitive to their needs, whether relating to imaging protocols or schedules that demand occasional evening or Saturday hours,” Arbogast points out. As a result, the imaging center has integrated the specialized software used by many of the area’s orthopedic physicians to ensure compatible formats. Nationwide, RadNet performs over 2.5 million diagnostic radiology and imaging procedures annually. With its 20 employees, the Hacienda facility is projected to perform between 20,000 to 25,000 exams this year, up from 15,476 in 2007. For more information about NorCal Imaging Pleasanton, visit www.radnet.com. With Revenues
Doubling Monthly,
ClearLead is Clearly in Growth Mode
By Nicole Zaro Stahl As corporate websites morph from static information repositories to efficient, productive sales channels, the need for mechanisms to drive and measure site traffic has exploded. Consumers have embraced online buying, with most of them relying on search engines to do research before making a purchase decision. According to Jupiter Media Matrix, more than 55 percent of all Internet purchases begin with a search engine. As a result, Search Engine Marketing (SEM)—using search engines to gain visibility, boost traffic, and, ultimately, increase sales--has become one of the hottest buzzwords in the area of customer acquisition, and new Hacienda tenant ClearLead Inc. is rapidly emerging as a leader in the field. One of the basic challenges of SEM is the dynamic nature of the Internet: search engines constantly refine their algorithms, users change habits, market trends are seasonal, and new competitors can affect the environment, explains Ajith Chimata, ClearLead co-founder, chairman, and CTO. The company’s expertise in Internet technology and infrastructure has produced tools that can respond to and manage these changes so clients continue to get the best cost and value from their SEM efforts. Companies can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on Organic Search or Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay-per-Click (PPC) advertising associated with search keywords without getting measurable results, Chimata continues. “Our technology analyzes the back-end data and identifies which keywords work best for any given web site. And now we have a new business model so instead of high monthly service fees our customers pay only for performance, which is defined as a customer initiated phone call of one minute or more, or a completed website contact form.” “No one else in this industry is operating on the performance model,” he adds. “Other SEM providers focus on driving clicks. We focus on driving customers to the site.” ClearLead’s optimization technology is also facilitating new offerings like targeted press release services and reputation management, “a big thing right now,” Chimata points out. ClearLead’s proprietary technology and proven approach have put it on a path of robust growth. Founded in 2003 in Fremont, the company moved into new offices at 4309 Hacienda Drive this spring to take advantage of the central location and the Tri-Valley’s educated labor force. “We are self-funded, cash positive, and our revenues are doubling every month,” Chimata remarks. Changing the business model last year has given it “a big boost,” enough so the company, which now has a headcount of approximately 50, is planning to add IT and sales/account management personnel--which may require it to seek extra space. In the meantime, Chimata notes that the hefty growth spurt “is a good problem to have.” |
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